The Portland daily press., 1887-09-29
SEEMED LIKE OLD TIMES.
Grand Army Boys Forced to March
In the Rain.
The Commander In Chief Parades In
Rubber Coat.
Report OF General FaIrchIId for the
Last Year.

Shortly before II O'Clock the column was
formed, and large escort formed around
the Commander-in-chief, who followed few
yards behind, wrapped in rubber coat,
smiling and bowling to the crowds lining the
streets. All along the way he was greeted
with applause. His staff of hundred men,
mounted, preceded twenty carriages, moving
three abreast, in which were the war Gov
ernors and other hon0red guests. In the
lead was one occupied by Mayor Francis and
Gen. Sherman. Although closely sheltered
from the rain and the sight of the crowds on
the sidewalks, they soon found where the
old commander was, and cheer upon cheer
marked his progress down the street, while
frequently groups Of men would rush from
the shelter to the carriage door to grasp his
hand. AS the column passed under the
beautiful stained glass transparency Of Gen.
Grant on Fourth street, all uncovered their
heads and passed in silence.
The head Of the procession reached the
Grand Army arch that spans Olive street at
Fairchild, Gen. Sherman, ex-Vice President
Hannibal Hamlin, the war Governors and
other distinguished guests left the carriages
and took positions in the grand stand just
east of the arch. Across the street, facing
the grand stand, Grand Marshal Grier and
staff sat in their saddles, while the rain, in
creased in volume, for an hour and half
poured down on the heads of the passing
soldiers. Missourps contingent was IS min
utes In passing lllinois's, 10 minutes; Kan
sass, II minutes; the other States were
represented by posts and regiments. Along
the line Of march were thousands Of boys in
blue, who thought it too wet to march. In
the balcony of the grand stand Commander
in-Chief Fairchild and Gen. Sherman, partly
protected from the storm, bowed TO the boys
as they passed, acknowledging continually
the rouSing cheers that went up from each
post as they filed by in company 'front.' Here
and there throughout the different divisions
marched colored post Their salute in
variably was a signal for applause from
those in the grand stand, which was several
times taken up by the crowd and prolonged
into hearty cheer. Dripping flags received
much bOisterous notice. As the squad carry
ing the tattered remnants OF battle flags
passed by, the enthusiasm was unbOunded.
Throughout the column an occasional war
ri0r carried cane or pole on which was
dangling a chicken leg. mutton side, bacon,
cabbage or some other representation OF the
f0raging expedition or commissary stores.
As the right of the line reached its des-
tination the troops broke ranks and hastened
back to the reviewing stand to get glimpse
of the commanders. They came with such
rush that they threatened destruction to the
rest of the column. The mounted staff and
Illinois division soon forced way through
the crowd and cleared a passage.
AT 1.30 o'clock, as the Sons Of Veterans
brought up the rear, the crowd made rush
with "Uncle Billy" The General refused to
respond to the numerous calls for speech,
and finding an opportunity, slipped into
carriage and was quickly driven away.
Proceedings Of the Encampment.
ST. LOUIS. Sept. 2s.-The Encampment
opened in due form in the Entertainment
Hall of the Exposition Building at $50 p.
m. Commander-in-Chief Gen. Fairchild
presided. The committee on credentials
were appointed, and the annual address of
the Commander-in-C Chief was then present
ee. He gave the total members at the time
of the last national encampment as 6.499;
the number June 30, 1887, 372,674 actual
gain, 46,157. The amount expended for
charity from March, 1886. to March, 1887, in
elusive, is S253, ,934, disbursed to 17,607 COM
rades and families and 5000 others. During
the year death has claimed 3406 members,
including John A. Logan.
A letter was received by Gen. Fairchild
from Joseph w. Drexel, offering in perpetu-
ity the cottage at Mount McGregor In which
Gen. Grant spent his last days. to the sur
country, the only condition being that the
cottage and surrounding grounds shall be
held In trust by the COmmander-in-Chief of
the Grand Army, the president Of the Mount
McGregor Railway Company and another, to
be named by the donor. Gen. Fairchild rec
commended that 1t be referred to the incom-
ing Commander-in-Chief with authority to
accept If satisfactory arrangements can be
made
He recommended the appointment of a
competent eomrade to write history Of the
organization; recommended that national
headquarters be located at some central
point, the assistant adjutant general to be
put in charge. In the matter Of pensions,
the Commander said, the Grand Army never
would consent that the question Of pensions
should be classed as partisan. He had been
Of one mind, considering 1t but simple JUS
tice that the United States should grant
pension Of not less. than S12 per month to
all persons who served three months or more
in the military or naval service, were honor
ably discharged, and who, now or hereafter
may be from mental or physical disability,
not the result of their own vicious habits, in
capacitated for the performance Of manual
labor.
In conclusion, he said: "In fraternity,
charity, loyalty, we stand. proud of the fact
that there has never been any bitter feeling
of hate for those fellow citizens who once
were In arms against us, but now are loyal.
who long ago took their old time places in
our hearts, never, we devoutly hope, to be
removed therefrom. We have not now, nor
have at any time since the war closed, had any
disposition to open again the bloody chasm
which once, unhappily, divided this people.
We not only will not ourselves reopen that
dreadful abyss, but we will, with the loyal
people of the North and South, protest
against all attempts which others may make
to do So"
The position taken by the Commander-in-
Chief on the pension question, and his allu-
sion to the South met most hearty response.
Comrade Turner Of New York presented
obituary resolutions on Post Department
Commander George II. Patch of Massachu-
setts.
Woman's Part.
The third national convention of the Wo-
mems Relief Corps met at Harmonic Hall
this morning. President Elizabeth DARN
Kime's report for the past year shows
large increase in membership. In June,
1886, there were S54 corps, with member
ship Of $500; in June, 1887, there were
1853 corps, with 49,204 members. The pro-
gress Of the organization has been slowest
in Maine and New Mexico. Ohio leads with
6,092 members. During the past year S56, ,1O6
was distributed in charity. THIS does not
represent the thousands of visits to the sick
and destitute, or the food and luxuries do
mated. The Secretary reports; General fund
on hand, S37, ,464; relief fund on hand, $780,
800 The Grand Army committee ON pen
sions has recommended that the ladies push
the bill for the pensioning Of army nurses.